If a decision is made not to hold a Serious Case Review by the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board, this will be notified to Ofsted and the National Panel of Independent Experts on Serious Case Reviews in accordance with the London Child Protection Procedures.

The report to Ofsted is submitted online and the contents entered must be reviewed by the Designated Manager before it is submitted. The form requires a range of information and is set out clearly in sections. A copy of the completed form should be saved and printed out for the records.

In urgent situations, the Deputy Director or Director of Children’s Services should telephone Ofsted on 0300 123 1231 and then complete the form.

2. Death of or Serious Injury to a Child in Care

Where information comes to notice of the death of or serious injury to a child in care, the following tasks are required.

2.1

The child's social worker will:

Immediately inform their line manager;

Notify the parent(s) immediately and in person, if possible;

In the event of a child's death, discuss with the parent(s) and reach agreement regarding the arrangements for the funeral (in the event of sudden, unexplained deaths arrangements for the funeral may need to be delayed);

In the event of a serious injury to the child, arrange with the parent(s) to visit the child in hospital;

Obtain as much information as possible on the circumstances surrounding the cause of death/serious injury and pass this to their line manager; and

Discuss with the line manager any necessary expenditure including reasonable travel expenses to assist the family in attending the funeral or visiting the child in hospital where it appears there is financial hardship;

Where the child was in a long term foster placement, discuss with the line manager any possible conflict between the carers and the parents regarding arrangements for the child's funeral.

2.2

The line manager will:

Immediately inform the Service Manager by telephone and provide follow up information in writing as soon as possible afterwards;

Advise Legal Services initially by telephone, then confirm details in writing; and

Contact the Insurance Section of the Finance Department, initially by telephone and then in writing.

2.3

The Service Manager will:

Inform the Head of Children's Social Care;

Ensure that the parents' wishes concerning the funeral are discussed (by the social worker or the team manager), that any possible conflict with the wishes of the carers are also ascertained and addressed, and that any appropriate associated costs are met;

Consult the Head of Children's Social Care about the need for an internal management review of the case and if so, the appropriate person to conduct the review;

Where a review is to be conducted, collect any files held on the child and family and secure them at his or her office;

Arrange through his or her administrative staff to inform other relevant agencies about the death/serious injury and remind them to secure their files where a review is likely to be required;

Arrange, in consultation with the Safeguarding Manager, appropriate meetings under the London Child Protection Procedures, including the need to hold a Serious Case Review;